An Overview of Stage 16 in the 2009 Tour de France and its Impact on the Race

In stage 16 of the 2009 Tour de France, Lance Armstrong took the yellow jersey from Alberto Contador after an attack on the final climb of the day. This move effectively ended Contador's chances of winning the Tour, as Armstrong went on to win the race overall. The stage 16 finish was one of the most dramatic in recent Tour history, and it was a defining moment in the rivalry between Armstrong and Contador. Armstrong's attack showed that he was the stronger rider, and it was a major blow to Contador's ego. The 2009 Tour was the last time that Armstrong and Contador raced against each other, and it is clear that their rivalry was one of the most intense in the history of the sport.The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place between 4 and 26 July 2009, starting in the Principality of Monaco and finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. A total of 20 teams entered the Tour, with each team having 9 cyclists. The race was won by Alberto Contador of Spain. Stage 16 was a mountain stage with five categorized climbs, including two summit finishes. The stage began in the town of Martigny and ended in the ski resort of Verbier. The stage was won by American rider Levi Leipheimer, with Contador finishing second. The stage had a major impact on the overall standings, with Contador extending his lead over second-place finisher Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. Schleck's brother, Frank, also lost ground to Contador after struggling on the final climb. This left Alberto Contador in the lead of the 2009 Tour de France with only three stages remaining.In 2009, the Tour de France was changed to a mountain stage race. The new stage, called the "Queen Stage", was held on the penultimate day of the race. This stage was designed to be the most difficult and challenging stage of the race, and it certainly lived up to its billing. The stage was won by Alberto Contador, who went on to win the Tour de France. The impact of the Queen Stage on the 2009 Tour de France was significant. The stage was so difficult that only a handful of riders were able to finish, and the time gaps between the riders at the finish were significant. This stage effectively decided the race, as the riders who were able to finish the stage were the ones who ended up on the stand. The Queen Stage was a controversial addition to the 2009 Tour de France, as some felt that it was too difficult and that it effectively decided the race before the final stage. However, the stage was a thrilling addition to the race, and it provided some of the most exciting moments of the Tour.
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